Stoke lead Rotherham at break

Stoke 2, Rotherham 0 (half-time)

Paul Warhurst scored his first goal for Stoke to put the struggling First Division club on course to move out of the relegation zone after a scrappy opening 45 minutes at the Britannia Stadium.

The Bolton midfielder – signed on transfer deadline day from the Barclaycard Premiership club – turned home a near-post header after 20 minutes, and his strike was then eclipsed by a fabulous lob from Andy Cooke shortly before half-time.

Rotherham hit the woodwork twice as City rode their luck, but Ronnie Moore’s side were left to rue a lethargic start which gifted the hosts control of the match.

Stoke’s run of six matches without defeat had prevented the club from losing touch with fourth-bottom Brighton, although a tally of just three goals during those fixtures was evidence of the problems facing manager Tony Pulis.

His players looked lively early on and midfielder Peter Hoekstra forced Millers goalkeeper Mike Pollitt into a decent save after seven minutes with a low shot from the edge of the box, but a lack of invention up front was again obvious.

A dangerous cross from Cooke was easily dealt with by visiting defender Chris Swailes under no pressure, but in the 20th minute, City’s frontline finally clicked to produce the opening goal.

Cooke swung a corner into the penalty area and Warhurst timed his run perfectly to force a powerful header at the near post past Pollitt and into the net.

The goal gave the hosts confidence and Cooke lashed a left-foot volley over the crossbar after Hoekstra’s delivery had evaded Rotherham’s defence, but a quick counter attack from the visitors set up Alan Lee for an 18-yard effort which Mark Crossley did well to save.

The on-loan Middlesbrough keeper was beaten on the half-hour mark when Shaun Barker rattled the woodwork from long range, and John Mullin then wasted an excellent chance to equalise when he fired into the crowd from just six yards.

The pressure continued to build on the City goal and Crossley produced another excellent stop, tipping Guy Branston’s goalbound strike over the crossbar, before Stoke extended their lead with a brilliant goal five minutes before half-time.

Cooke appeared to have few options 30 yards from goal but the striker surprised everyone by producing a perfect lob which looped over Pollitt as the Millers keeper scrambled to recover.

Rotherham attempted to pull a goal back before the break, but their misfortune continued as Branston’s shot again came back off the frame of the goal.